Chapter 4
Love lasts a lifetime
Everyone was ready to get Shaggy back, they had to find those items, they had to start investigating for real now. Daphne was determined to get her bo' back and nothing was going to stop her. Uncle Jebadiah went to the cellar and brought out a rifle and two shotguns. Everyone was amazed. How did he get his hands on this stuff?
"Where did you get these, Uncle Jebadiah?" asked Fred.
" I've had them since before I married your aunt, there were a lot of bandits in these parts at that time. I had to protect my family. When I married your aunt most of the bandits have been driven out of the town so I put the guns away to have a loving quiet life with my darling wife. " said Jebadiah.
"However it seems we need them now more than ever!" exclaimed Daphne, in anger.
"Why would you need guns Daph? We need to find those items." Asked Velma.
"Listen! I want my Shaggy back at any cost so I am going to use any advantage, any weapon, anything that will help me regardless of the costs be they financial or moral." Screamed Daphne pointing at Velma.
Even Fred got scared by Daphne, he's never seen her like this. It was something completely new. She was always the fashionably gullible damsel in distress. She was never one to take the lead or get angry or use whatever she could to get her way. Fred thought to himself that she really must be not just in love actually she must love Shaggy with all her heart so much that she would give her life in exchange for his. That moment Fred realized there was no hope left for him, he resented himself for craving Daphne when until now he would not even give her attention. She was Shaggy's sweetheart that is for sure. It was time to be a friend and bring his best friend back. He stood up and he said:
"Daphne's right, now it is not the time for words, it is time to take action by whatever means necessary."
"Velma, the both of us we'll do it your way and we'll start looking for the items, Scooby, Daphne and the rest of you prepare weapons, shelter and anything else you could so we could be prepared for the worst." Said Fred.
"But Fred?" asked Velma.
"Velma in case we do not find the items by midnight we need to have the tools necessary to get Shaggy back, he is our friend, heck, he is my best friend and I will not leave him to rot in that creature's hands." Said Fred holding Velma tight by her arms and having that serious look that says "don't worry, I've got a plan."
" Now everybody get a move on."
Well they got a move on alright. Daphne helped Jebadiah with the guns, Fred's aunt packed a lot of chili cans a bit opened. They were the hottest type of chili in the area. They were sure to burn someone's face if thrown at them. Scooby was desperate to save his friend too. He went and sniffed all around him to pick up even the slightest scent of Shaggy.
He walked and he walked and he sniffed and he barked, there was no sign of him, it got dark, pitch black even. Scooby returned to the house, grabbed a flashlight and together with Daphne they kept looking. There was not much to see as the only visible thing was only what has been hit by the light of the flashlight, nothing more. Suddenly, they heard a scream:
"Zoinks- HEEEELP!"
"Raggy, rhat was Raggy" said Scooby,turning around to see where the sound is coming from.
His sharp,pointy, Great Dane ears picked up a trace of the sound, but there was a multitude of sounds.
"Well, Scoob, what did you find? Where is he?!" asked Daphne, determined, angry and downright appalled at the idea that her sweet Shaggy could be food for that Scorpion monster, God or no God, there will be no sacrificing.
"Shh, I'm hearing cows and trucks." Responded Scooby, annoyed by Daphne's continuing pointless interference.
Fred and Velma pulled over in the Mystery Machine. Both Scooby and Daphne climbed in and could not believe their eyes.
"We found them guys. Look!" said Fred nodding at Velma while driving as she was handing them the sacred items, one by one.
Artazzo's vase, it was magnificent, not much like a desert God kind of a vase for it was colored so wonderfully with a very light blue and touches of prussian blue, yellow golden shapes painted on the margins and a ruby like drawing in the middle, a sublime autumn cadmium red. The colors were so intense, so full of life. The second item was a pendant with the scorpion astrological sign made of gold. Velma explained to them that legend has it the pendant was not only offering the blessing of the desert God but also a fraction of the desert God's power, whoever had this thing of beauty wrapped around his or her neck would be able to crush the mystery machine like a children's toy. The third and by far the most valuable of them was the family crest.
"Family crest?!" asked Daphne, bewildered. What kind of monster or even God for that matter needs a family crest?
"It is said that this family crest belonged to the first followers of the Scorpion God. It was a sign of differentiation between them and the unbelievers." Answered Velma.
"Amazing, so they really started this new religion and political rule based on these beliefs." Said Daphne.
"The most interesting part is that these items will help us find Shaggy and catch this so called Scorpion God. Ready Velma?" asked Fred with a smirk on his face.
"You know I am. Pull over!" shouted Velma.
Fred pulled over, everyone got out of the car, Velma took out some kind of paper from the pocket of her skirt and stretched it out, it was a map of the city and the surrounding areas. She placed it on the ground, took the items and positioned them on the map.
"The items were not scattered randomly as one might think, they were strategically placed so the followers of Artazzo could find their way back to the sacred cave and worship." Said Velma, continuing to arrange the items on the map.
"We found the vase of Artazzo hidden in the basement of that shop where the phantom was looking for it, it was actually buried underneath since thousands of years ago there stood a ceremonial place for the followers of Artazzo to get married, the union was made whole by splashing water over the bride and groom. Most probably we'll do that with you and Shaggy" Fred laughed.
Daphne frowned.
"Moving on, the pendant was placed as a symbol of power, it was buried underneath the old cemetery, there once stood some kind of ancient city hall where everything became official and the had of the family received the pendant for he was the leader of his family and it was his duty to take care of them. The woman would bear children to whom the father would pass on the power of the pendant so they could be strong and brave in the face of adversity." Continued Velma.
"Lastly, the family crest belonged to the father as a symbol of power and leadership over his family. Upon his death the crest would be given to the oldest son, if any. And we found it in my uncle's attic. He said it was a family heirloom. Apparently I'm a direct descendant of the Scorpion God worshippers. Wonder if some of that power got passed down to me, he, he." Finished Fred.
"Be given life, Creating life and Leaving life. All of these sacred items symbolize how these people lived and how in the end they were reunited with the Scorpion God, the one who loved them all." Said Velma, excitedly.
"Yes, very interesting, now does ancient garbage help us find Shaggy?" asked Daphne. Everyone realized she was pissed that they wasted time with the entire history of the artefacts instead of finding Shaggy.
"I placed all items in the sacred places where they were used and where we found them. Now all together they should indicate the way back God, Artazzo. C'mon, point your flashlight to the map, the shine of the moon I not enough in this pitch black darkness!" exclaimed Velma.
Daphne did as such and everyone was amazed because once hit by light the three items created some sort of light pathway that would intersect in the middle of the map and would mark the exact spot where the place of worship should be, where Artazzo and Shaggy should be.
"It's the Merigold Cave, where the festival is supposed to take place." Said Fred.
"We have no time to lose, c'mon, aaah!" Screamed Daphne as she stood and out of nowhere the man in blue, servant of Artazzo no doubt, showed up, grinding his teeth, screaming and scaring the hell out of them.
Scooby bit the man's leg and ran like a wild bull, so did the others. The pitch blackness of the night made it impossible for any of them to see so they just circled around the mystery machine as it had its lights on. Suddenly there was a loud noise, a bullet flew right past the man in blue and into one of the tyres. He ran away as the shooting continued.
"What happened? Who shot?" asked Fred, confused and scratching his head.
Out the dark came out Uncle Jebadiah and Fred's aunt, carrying a few shotguns that he passed around to each of them.
"Now Freddy boy, I think you've found your answers, let's go save your friend!" said Uncle Jebadiah while stretching his arm and showing off his old, dusty shotgun.
Fred changed the tyre quickly with a spare one and they all headed for the Merigold Cave. Meanwhile Shaggy was tied up to some kind of rock in the form of a bed and screamed:
"Like Heeelp! What are you going to do with me?"
"If those thieving friends of yours bring me the sacred items that I require to go back to my godly form you will be free to go. But if they do not succeed in bringing me the items I will turn you and all your loved ones into my mindless slaves." Answered Artazzo.
"Gulp! Zoinks! Scooby-Doo, where are you?" screamed Shaggy.
Scooby and the rest of the gang was back on the road, almost at the cave. Once there everyone climbed down and sneaked inside the cave. Unknown to them, they were being watched by the man in blue who was standing on top of a cliff, being able to see everyone who would dare enter the cave.
"You are in for a surprise, mon amis, ahhahahah." He said to himself laughing diabolically.
Back in the cave the gang was hiding behind a layer of solid rock, peaking inside the ferocious beast's cave. Daphne was baffled, she saw Shaggy tied to some kind of metal table that was turned up, steadied on the ground by some kind of rounded prongs. The great Scorpion was just standing beside him, completely still.
"Guys, look, up there!" whispered Freddy.
Everyone looked up and saw a mechanical kind of moving pipe that was attached on one end to the big scorpion and on the other to the ceiling and other pipes that were leading to some kind of machine that was fumigating. Daphne cut in closer to the edge of the rock layer they were hiding behind. Shaggy saw her, she gestured him to shush. Two thick-tongued people came from a tunnel connected to the cave. They had black hair, glasses, a simple mustache, red and green pants and blue robes, laboratory kind of ones. The one with the red pants went to the side of the scorpion and started touching it, thus opening a hidden door and entering the scorpion. He came out of there with a moving metal table full of some chemistry kind of glasses, with different solutions and mixtures in them.
"Are we ready for the final raid?" asked the man in red pants.
"Soon we should have all we need." Responded the other.
"What do you think they're talking about Velma?" whispered Freddy.
"I don't have a clue, but we gotta move closer somehow to rescue Shaggy." Answered Velma.
"Do not trouble yourself with that, you will join him very soon." Aid a voice from behind.
Everyone turned around and saw the man in blue, the phantom acolyte of the scorpion. He bent to catch them.
"Not so fast, pal, ha!" shouted Daphne as she shot a bullet through the phantom, which alerted the other two scientists.
"Intruders, seal the cave, they must not escape!" Shouted one of them.
The other one ran towards another wall where there was a red button attached to a long pipe. He pressed it and, within moments, a giant metal door came down and sealed off the cave. The bullet shot by Daphne went through the phantom like thin air, everyone was terrified of what was to come next. The phantom grabbed Fred and Jebadiah by the throats. He squeezed them tightly, making it difficult for them to breath, it was too risky to try to shoot, one of them could have been hurt in the process. At that moment, when all seemed lost as Daphne was pushed against the wall, no escape, all these guns and still no way to defend themselves, Daphne had a struck of genius. She took out the cartridge of her pistol and threw it mercilessly at the phantom's hand. The man in blue was indeed hit, thus letting go of Freddy, Velma took out her cartridge and di the same thing to free Jebadiah. The phantom was in a lot of pain, he fled along with the other two kidnappers.
"Bloody hell, that was close. You had a brilliant idea Daphne! " exclaimed Fred.
"Yeah, but when you shot before the bullet went right through him, how come the cartridge never did?" asked Jebadiah.
"Well, regardless if he is a phantom or not , if he was able to grab the boys, then he must've had solid hands, I figured it was worth a try." Answered Daphne, glad.
"C'mon kids, let's get your friend and skedaddle!" insisted Jebadiah.
All of them quickly ran to Shaggy, Daphne untied him, hugged him and kissed him for the first time in front of the others, leaving them baffled.
" My love, you're finally back in my arms." Said Daphne.
She turned her head to face the others and blushed. Fred said nothing, he suspected it and was happy for them. Velma completely lost it on the other hand.
"What the actual fuck?! How long have you two been seeing each other? Why'd you hide it from the rest of us? Why didn't you tell me?" she shouted and crossed her arms in anger and disgust.
"Well, our love and attraction and passion, if I say so myself, for each other has been there since high-school, we never really acted upon it. We did not want to ruin our friendship or the friendship we both have with you all. But the thing is, at the end of the day, all I wanna do with my life is love this woman with every fiber of my being. I want to see her every single day, I want to tell her how beautiful she is to me, how wonderful her voice is, how my thoughts and hers are intertwined, I just want to make her happy, it is my only and my deepest desire." Said Shaggy, his eyes gleaming with joy as he looked at Daphne.
"Does that mean you won't have as much time to eat enormous amounts of food with me?" asked Scooby.
Everyone laughed.
"Hahaha, aah, not to ruin the mood or anything kids but I'd like to get back to my wife before dinner." Said Jebadiah.
"Those scoundrels trapped us in here, but there should be a way out. Shaggy, did you see anything when you were brought here?" asked Velma.
Suddenly it felt like an earthquake was happening.
"What is happening?!"shouted Fred.
"Zoinks! I think I have your answer, it seems like we've got bigger problems than just getting out of the cave." Screamed Shaggy as he pointed upwards.
Everyone looked up, the scorpion was awaken.
"Zoinks! Ruuuuuuuuun!" Shaggy screamed with all the force in his lungs.
Everybody scattered throughout the cave, the scorpion was ceasesly trying to crush them into little pieces. Shaggy and Daphne held hands as they ran together with Scooby by their side. The man in blue came out in front of Fred and Velma, Jebadiah was caught by the two scientists. Shaggy, Daphne and Scooby managed to escape through one of the tunnels. After a while of running uncontrollably they stopped, they began breathing slowly although they were still tired and scared.
"What should we do, we cannot get out and we cannot leave our friends behind either?" asked Daphne, frightened to the core.
"Are you crazy, go back there where that hideous creature resides? No freaking way!" said Shaggy, moving his arms with open palms away from his body.
"Raggy." Said Scooby as he stared baleful at Shaggy.
"Huh, alright let me think!" sighed Shaggy and began panting.
He looked around the room they got to and there was a lot of holographic equipment and some blue suits. Daphne was watching him, not leaving him out of her sight, he looked magnificent as he rubbed his chin gracefully as a sign of deep thinking. Then he stopped. Daphne smiled.
"Let me guess, you came up with a plan." Said Daphne.
"Yup, and it is so crazy it just might work. Let's make a movie." answered Shaggy.
Back in the cave Fred, Velma and Jebadiah were tied together to one of the pipes and hanged up from the ceiling.
"We need to find a way to free ourselves, I feel like a side of beef." said Fred.
"There's no point, even if we manage to free ourselves from this conundrum we are still 10 feet off the ground, we'd just fall to our deaf." Said Velma.
"This is it, the last one, we are free to go from the godforsaken wretched rat hole!" said the man in blue as he was loading some barrels into the mechanical scorpion.
Everybody heard a noise, it went like "weeeeeee". Everybody was on their guard. Out of two tunnels appeared the great scorpion and the original people of Artazzo.
"You impudent, mortal fools! How dare you insult my memory using this pathetic machine?!" Shouted Artazzo as he intertwined his claws and began dropping them fast on the Scorpion robot. The man in the blue suit and the other two scientists ran in terror and despair.
The people of Artazzo cornered them and just before the final blow to the scorpion robot Daphne and Shaggy hit them all in the head with their shotguns, knocking them out. The illusions of Artazzo and his people disappeared. Scooby went inside the robot and used its claws to get his friends down. After they've been untied, Shaggy told him about how he used the image inducer equipment to create a false monster and false followers. Everyone was thrilled, Jebadiah tied the three crooks up and unmasked the man in blue.
"Well, what do ya know, it was the guy from the antique store but like why did he do all of this?" asked Shaggy, confused.
"I got your answer right here Shaggy, earth oil, loads of it, cooked up in barrels. I guess they extracted it from the earth and were hoping to sell it and get rich on the black market." Said Velma.
"And they would have gotten away with it if it weren't for us meddling kids" said Velma.
Everybody laughed. They used the scorpion robot to destroy the giant metal door blocking the cave and dropped off the oil and the crooks to the police station. Later that night they were back home enjoying Fred's aunt's deliciously cooked ribs.
"Well, now that it's all over, I would like to do something that I should have done a long time ago."said Shaggy.
Everyone was baffled. What did he mean by this?
He pulled out a little tin opener key from his pocket that he procured from one of the barrels and got down on one knee in front of Daphne.
"I know this isn't much for now but regardless of the shape,look and origin of this ring I want you to know that all my love for you is captured within it. My beautiful, precious best friend, will you do me the honor of being my wife?" asked Shaggy.
"Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!" answered Daphne as she jumped in Shaggy's arms and hugged him and kissed him.
"This seems like a reason for a celebration, darling. Bring out the good bottle!" advised Jebadiah.
They held the wedding there, beautiful with white roses all over, the people of the festival accompanied them, it was a joyful occasion. Daphne came to Scooby and asked him:
"Hey Scoob, I wanted to check with you, I know that you and Shaggy have your little boys club, are you alright with me joining it?"
Scooby liked her happily on her face and said: "Scooby-Dooby-DOO!"
THE END